Gordonsville in Orange County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Orange County / Louisa County

By Craig Swain, January 12, 2008

1. South Facing Side

Inscription. (South Facing Side): Orange CountyFormed from Spotsylvania County in 1734, Orange County, a pastoral Piedmont county, was probably named in honor of William IV, the Dutch prince of Orange, who married Anne, the Princess Royal, daughter of George II of England, earlier that year. President James Madison lived here at Montpelier and President Zachary Taylor was born here. Some fifty square miles of the county comprise the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District, an area rich in historic resources including the ruins of Barboursville, the home of Gov. James Barbour that was designed by 1817 by his friend Thomas Jefferson.

(North Facing Side): Louisa CountyLocated in the heart of the Virginia Piedmont, this rural county was named for Princess Louisa, a daughter of George II. It was formed from Hanover County in 1742; the county seat is Louisa. Among the county's historic resources is Green Springs Historic District including Boswell's Tavern, which was used on one occasion during the Revolution as headquarters of the Marquis de Lafayette. Other landmarks include the monumental Louisa County courthouse and the old jail.

38° 7.602′ N, 78° 11.208′ W. Marker is in Gordonsville, Virginia, in Orange County. Marker is on James Madison Highway (U.S. 15/33), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gordonsville VA 22942, United States of America.

Also see . . . 1. History of Orange County. (Submitted on January 17, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)2. Louisa County History. (Submitted on January 17, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)3. Boswell's Tavern. (PDF) Register of Historic Locations documentation. (Submitted on January 17, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

The home of President James Madison is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Montpelier Station, it was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966

By Craig Swain, April 17, 2010

5. Barboursville (1822)

Designed by Thomas Jefferson and destroyed by fire in 1884, it is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Barboursville, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969.

By PaulwC3, April 20, 2013

6. Frascati (1823)

The home is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Somerset, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

By PaulwC3, April 20, 2013

7. Rocklands (1851)

Built in 1851 and enlarged in 1905 it is one of the centerpiece estates of the Madison-Barbour Rural Historic District. Located near Gordonsville, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on January 17, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 968 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 17, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 4. submitted on September 22, 2014, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia. 5. submitted on April 27, 2010, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on April 20, 2013, by PaulwC3 of Northern, Virginia.